How "universal" are Universal Apps?

[Shan Ali Khan]

Hi ,
I havent developed a complete universal app for windows phone 8.1 although i have little knowledge developed apps in old technology for WP8
After yesterday event. i just wanted to know how much the universal apps will be universal as MSFT say same code will be run on Windows 10 for phone and PC.
How much the same code it will be. ? its sure that all same libraries and function performing with same type will work in phone and PC too ?
or there will be a difference

 

[Athull]

re: How "universal" are Universal Apps?

All apps made for x86 architecture would be limited to PC and tablets until someone puts an Intel processor in WP. The others would possibly be limited by hardware and screen sizes.

 

[Wall-SWE]

re: How "universal" are Universal Apps?

Since Microsoft have been talking about ONE windows 10 on all devices, I was expecting Microsoft to reveal "true" universal apps yesterday, apps that would run on any device, that would indeed have help in closing the App and game gap.
However, they didn't even touch the subject, which was really disappointing. Its suppose to be ONE Windows 10 for all devices, than all APPS should be cross compatible..

 

[emigrating]

re: How "universal" are Universal Apps?

True universal apps already exist. You've been able to write one app that runs on phone and PC since build last year - you wouldn't want to of course as you do need to provide a different user experience on the two platforms, but it's been possible. Xbox One is getting in on this action later this year.

 

[Shan Ali Khan]

re: How "universal" are Universal Apps?

True universal apps already exist. You've been able to write one app that runs on phone and PC since build last year - you wouldn't want to of course as you do need to provide a different user experience on the two platforms, but it's been possible. Xbox One is getting in on this action later this year.

Well they are not actually true universal apps. Special projects are built for PC and mobile and another project for shared code in visual studio. True universal app must contain all same code for all devices rather designing and putting all things in different projects

 

[Asskickulater]

re: How "universal" are Universal Apps?

Well they are not actually true universal apps. Special projects are built for PC and mobile and another project for shared code in visual studio. True universal app must contain all same code for all devices rather designing and putting all things in different projects

But what your saying is impossible, no matter how clever Microsoft makes the coding work, x86 is x86, winRT is winRT, there is no clever software hack to make one language work on the other, that's an instruction set read at the architectural level. So, if you keep thinking like that, you will be forever dissapointed until phones start getting x86 chipsets.

 

[Shan Ali Khan]

re: How "universal" are Universal Apps?

Well im not talking about the core libraries working there can be a one way all libraries should be one in all devices or should be the windows core programming should decide which code should be run for that libraries depending upon the devices in front it will be easy for developing to develop in same libraries and function

 

[emigrating]

Well they are not actually true universal apps. Special projects are built for PC and mobile and another project for shared code in visual studio. True universal app must contain all same code for all devices rather designing and putting all things in different projects

Technically speaking, you could fire up a single solution and keep absolutely all code the same. But like I said, you definitely wouldn't want to due to UX.

 

[Mike-EEE]

However, they didn't even touch the subject.

Welcome to the party, pal. It's been this way since 2011, after Mix'11. Four years waiting for MSFT to "get it right" and make the big announcement. FWIW, //build is April 29th, so we should start to hear something about the new Windows 10 development paradigm (along with Xamarin.Forms/cross-platform integration) then. Again, it's been four years of "waiting" so take it for what it's worth.

As far as how "Universal" is "Univeral" apps... it's only about 10% adoption at this point for desktops:
Report

And a little over 1.5% on mobile:
Report

Calling them "Universal" is really laughable at this point. Integrating with Xamarin.Forms makes your applications Multiversal (and viable).

But, hopefully starting April 29th we can start to make more sense of this. I for one am hoping for stronger Xamarin.Forms integration as Xamarin seems to understand MSFT technology better than MSFT at this point.